A Tribute To Fang

With a broken heart that I tell you that Fang, Mummy Ask’s constant companion, left us last night. Let me tell you the story of Fang, the little rescue dog that danced into our lives.

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Fang was a stray little dog, skittering along the street towards the giant wheels of a concrete truck. Mummy Ask snatched her up and saw a timid, flea bitten, tiny slip of a dog. Visits to local vets and and calls to the council found no owner and when the council explained that the dog would be impounded Mummy Ask adopted her on the spot.

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Fang was in such poor condition that she had no fur on her ears at all, was dangerously under weight and had little fur on hide from a major flea infestation. The vet said they couldn’t desex her for at least 6 months because of her condition. They estimated her age at about 1 year old. Mum and Fang just bonded like crazy. They nurtured each other’s spirits back to health. Fangs ear fur grew back, her coat became glossy, her weight went from 2kgs to a healthy 6kg. Fang learned about inside and that windows weren’t doors and about soft human beds. Together, Mum and Fang explored the world, were bolstered by each other and shared a quiet, gentle kindness. They were as close as any two could be.

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Four years of snuggles, walkies and car rides went by and then things got scary in April this year. Fang needed cruciate ligament surgery and we were all scared that things would go terribly wrong but after a few days Fang was bright as a button. In a few weeks she was leaping about and moving like nothing ever happened. Then a couple of months later, Fang was off her game and Mum took her to the vet. The vet thought she was arthritic/had back pain and sent us home with anti inflammatories. After a few hours Fang was brighter and her life of dog treats, meandering walks and car rides continued on.

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Then another case of the blahs came over Fang and Mum took her to the vet in the early afternoon. As before, pain was suspected and anti inflammatories were dispensed. Mum rang me at 6pm, worried. Because she felt like something was wrong and Mum lives alone, she wanted me to be on standby. Mum rang me, begging me to come, at 11pm. Mr Ask and I were in the car like a shot. The mood was already sombre, the last time the three of us did a late night vet run we had to say goodbye to Spike, our dog that left just after Fang arrived.

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The vet rushed to X-ray Fang and get her on a drip. Gok babbling on TV, a waiting woman trying to shield her child from our tears and then the awful news. Fang had an abdominal bleed and cancer that had metastasized. Screw the late night vets! For us it always goodbye.

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So, here’s to Fang and her furry soul. I can only thank you for coming Fang. You will be sorely missed for a long time to come. I know you trusted when it was hard and loved without restraint. I believe in rainbow bridge and I hope you are in a place of joy.

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Losing a pet is the worst because some people just don’t get how it matters so much. But it does, it very much does. Oh Mumma your grief, sorrow and loss feels overwhelming. I am so sorry you had to lose your friend. You know Mr Ask & I are ripped to shreds too. I’ve never seen Mr Ask cry so much, only the loss of our furry ones can do that to him. And if you, dear reader, have lost a friend, I am so sorry.

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Thank you for reading and allowing me to express my feelings of loss. Sometimes, when your world is broken, you need to tell the story. Thank you.